Hello, Frog Troublers! If you’re like us, you might have some extra cardboard lying around this time of year. You can recycle it, of course (removing any the staples and tape and flattening it first), you can offer it to your cats for an adorable hiding place, or you can use it for an art project.
We love making things out of cardboard—we’ve posted about Egyptian-style costume jewelry and personalized board games, and everybody knows a cardboard box can make a great Halloween costume. Whenever Harriet finds a scrap of cardboard, she’ll draw a bunch of buttons on it and declare that it’s her new phone. But we came up with another great idea after getting a big mattress box in the mail.
With one side cut away, the box reminded us of Gabby’s Dollhouse (one of Harriet’s favorite shows, featuring an elaborate, multi-story dollhouse the main character is able to shrink herself into). We had a play date with two friends on Sunday, but it was cold and kind of dreary. So right after breakfast Bea and I measured and cut floors for the house, installed them with hot glue, and painted the exterior pink (naturally). While the paint was drying, Bea decided the dollhouse needed an elevator, so she built one using an eyeglass box, some yarn, a long paintbrush, and more cardboard (the “wheel” glued to the paintbrush turns to raise and lower the elevator.
The girls added to the house, little by little, all afternoon—Bea made a little free library for the side of the house, and her friend L. added curtains, a table, and a tablecloth. Harriet and her friend H. drew pictures on the wall and helped make a hanging bed that dangles from the cat cafe on the side (?). There’s also a tree house a roof deck pool. Yesterday, our friend A. hung out before she and Bea had rehearsals for their play. The dollhouse got some more curtains, a bunk bed, and a sofa. I plan to haul it out, along with tape, markers, glue, pushpins, fabric, and other scraps of art supplies, whenever the girls have chilly play dates or need something to do.
Speaking of cardboard, did you know that the demand for corrugated boxes (thanks in part to online ordering) has meant it’s harder to publish books? We’re certainly guilty of online ordering (which is how Gabby got a four-story house complete with elevator, after all). But we almost never order books online (and rarely toys) because we have great bookstores and toy stores in our community, and we want them to keep thriving. Our local bookstore will even wrap your books for you!
So, in the spirit of the gift guide (which too often feature toys and Amazon or big-box links), we thought we’d start a series about some books that could make great gifts for yourself or someone else.
Book guide, part one: Books in translation and retellings
Translations and retellings of classic tales are great for friends and relatives who are collectors, have already read every Harry Potter or Percy Jackson book. It’s also a great way to get to know other parts of the world (Bea is especially entranced by Japanese stories). But we’re also planning to make guides for younger readers, graphic novel and comics enthusiasts, and fans of fantasy/adventure and ghost stories.
Take it away, Bea…
People From My Neighborhood by Hiromi Kawakami (translated from Japanese, not technically for kids): Very short, weird stories set in a made-up neighborhood in Japan. I’m it reading with my mom. Every story is only 2-3 pages long so it’s easy to read one or two a night. Here’s a sample first sentence: “There’s a hell, the old man said, for people who are mean to chickens.” (Note from Belle: it could be fun to write an absurdist “People from my neighborhood” with your kids...)
The Pachinko Parlor by Elisa Shua Dusapin, translated from French (also not technically for kids). This is about a 20-something Swiss-Korean girl who tutors a ten-year-old Japanese girl one summer. Another one I’m reading with my mom.
Temple Alley Summer by Sachiko Kashiwaba (translated from Japanese): I’ve read this book twelve times at least because it’s so good. It’s funny, heartwarming, and joyful, plus it’s got great black and white illustrations. It’s also a story inside a story which is one of my favorite structures.
The Odyssey by Homer, retold by Gillian Cross and illustrated by Neil Packer. I’ve read this one at least ten times. It has amazing illustrations. I got it in kindergarten when I became obsessed with Greek mythology, but I think I understand it better now. This author also did a kid’s version of The Iliad but this is a better one to start with because it’s a more exciting story.
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren: if your kids haven’t read about the girl who lives by herself, tells crazy stories, and is strong enough to carry a horse, you need to get them this series! It was one of Michelle Obama’s childhood favorites.
Kiki’s Delivery Service by Eido Kadono, translated from Japanese: If your kids like the movie, they’ll love the book too. (I was Kiki for dress as your favorite character day this year, but no one knew who I was!)
Retellings for younger readers:
Cinderella Liberator by Rebecca Solnit. Totally different from regular Cinderella. A hint: no waiting around to get rescued by Prince Charming! (The author has a new one, Waking Beauty, that we spied in McIntyre’s the other day.)
The Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Sciesczka, illustrated by Lane Smith. Very fun to read aloud.
Anything you’d add to this list, Frog Troublers? What kind of book guides would be helpful for us to post in the next couple of weeks?
P.S. Here’s a joke from Bea:
Q: What do you call a teacher who schools you in farts?
A: A toot-er.
Thank you for the book list; I am still pondering the books I might suggest. I love the joke! I did recently read one of the many books Moms for Liberty want banned from school libraries. The book is Looking for Alaska, the young adult novel by John Green, and I loved it! It was very sweet, and moving! I would have been glad if my children had read during their high school years I am thankful for the Frog Trouble Times. My love to all.
Y’all keep your librarians busy!!!
I’m just going to read what you read, seriously.